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Bell: Johnny Manziel has motivation after draft slide

NEW YORK – The Johnny Manziel Watch began with a prank. Someone went Photoshop on Johnny Football and doctored a screen shot of him sipping a cup of water in the green room at Radio City Music Hall on Thursday

Bell: Johnny Manziel has motivation after draft slide

Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) poses for photos with his jersey after being selected as the number twenty-two overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Cleveland Browns at Radio City Music Hall.(Photo: William Perlman, The Star-Ledger/USA TODAY Sports)

Someone went Photoshop on Johnny Football and doctored a screen shot of him sipping a cup of water in the green room at Radio City Music Hall on Thursday night, to make it appear that he was drinking beer at the NFL draft.

Just hilarious, except that it went viral on social media – and given Manziel's rep for rollicking fun, a fair number of people probably believed it was possible the Texas A&M quarterback could stumble across the stage in a stupor as he greeted The Commish.

The most substantial joke on Manziel, though, came as he slid down the draft board with, well, authority.

It didn't cease until the Cleveland Browns moved up four slots to choose Manziel with the 22nd pick.

It could be a bad omen. That's the same slot, 22nd, that the Browns had in selecting quarterbacks Brandon Weeden (2012) and Brady Quinn (2007). Those moves did not exactly pan out.

In any event, when the Browns pick was announced on Thursday night, it was 10:40 p.m. ET.

The draft started at 8 p.m.

That was a long, long 2 ½ hours for Mr. Money Sign.

"It was a little bit of anxiety," Manziel said. "But at the same time, my lifelong goal has been fulfilled. It wasn't about the wait. It was about being here with my family."

VIDEO: Manziel talks about his wild draft day

Johnny Manziel feels fortunate to be drafted by the Cleveland Browns despite some projections he'd be taken with an earlier pick.

When Manziel finally crossed the stage to get his congratulations from Commissioner Roger Goodell, he was showered with thunderous applause. He returned the sentiment by flashing his signature money sign. All was right again in the world of Johnny Football.

Yet before that moment, with each behind-the-scenes close-up shot of Manziel in the green room, the look on his face seemed to be a bit more pained. I'd love to see the time-lapse compilation. Or Photoshop images.

"I felt going into this that everything would out itself out, and I was a true believer in that," Manziel said. "Obviously, there were some spots I thought I might end up. When it didn't happen, there was no list or no bitterness or grudge or anything there about that."

No, Manziel is not ready to market himself as Johnny Revenge.

In any event, the flamboyant play-maker, who won the Heisman Trophy as a freshman, provided the drama nonetheless during the first round of the draft.

Never mind that whopping deal the Cowboys struck with Tony Romo. Jones, at least publicly, has been enamored with Manziel. He has declared, at least publicly, that Manziel is a special star.

VIDEO: Day 1 draft recap

USA TODAY Sports' Jarrett Bell recaps the major stories in the start of an exciting draft, including why two position groups drew plenty of attention.

Jones recently reflected on how much he regretted passing on Randy Moss years ago, insinuating that he wouldn't do the same and not take Manziel.

He also contended that he didn't expect Manziel would be available at the 16th pick.

Well, look who was still in the green room with the Cowboys on the clock?

Instead of springing on Manziel, though, the Cowboys went with the very unsexy pick of Notre Dame guard Zack Martin.

Hello, Sports Illustrated cover jinx. Manziel was featured in the pre-draft edition.

Hey, Martin might become the next Larry Allen. Last year, the Cowboys hit on an O-lineman with their top pick in Wisconsin center Travis Frederick. Now they'll rolling with Martin. The book says that Martin, a two-time team captain, is super tough.

Just not a super-glitzy pick that you might have expected from Jones.

Meanwhile, the Manziel jokes were flowing on Twitter. #BeforeManzielGetsDrafted

Manziel declared a few weeks ago that the Houston Texans would regret it if they didn't take him with the No. 1 pick overall (Houston selected Jadeveon Clowney).

Well, now Manziel has about 20 more teams that he can make regret passing him over.

Even if he won't say so publicly.

The biggest questions about Manziel centered on his size and, given his knack for freelancing and improvisational play-making, uncertainty about how his game will translate to the NFL.

Ron Jaworski, the ESPN analyst and former Eagles quarterback, declared that he wouldn't take Manziel in the first three rounds. Dropping to 22 wasn't that bad of a slide, but for a player with as much as hype as Manziel gets, it seemed like he was left until the third day of the draft.

Naturally, the comparisons to Aaron Rodgers now exist for Manziel.

Rodgers was predicted as a top-two pick in 2005, but lasted until the 24th pick when he was selected by a team, the Green Bay Packers, that already had a future Hall of Famer in Brett Favre.